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Boston Career Explorer

Production

Drilling and Boring Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

Set up, operate, or tend drilling machines to drill, bore, ream, mill, or countersink metal or plastic work pieces.

Also called: Bore Mill Operator, CNC Drilling Operator (Computer Numerical Control Drilling Operator), CNC Machinist (Computer Numerical Control Machinist), Drill Operator, Drill Press Operator, Drill Setup Operator

Median pay in Greater Boston
$79,120
$38.04/hr
Jobs in Greater Boston
60
Massachusetts 2024–2034
−18.2%
10 openings a year
Typical U.S. entry requirement
High school diploma or equivalent
plus Moderate-term on-the-job training

Greater Boston: Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area, May 2025. Growth and openings: Massachusetts statewide projection.

Pay range in Greater Boston

Yearly pay in Greater Boston by percentile
10th25thMedian75th90th
$52,210$63,900$79,120$84,930$84,930

10% of workers earn less than the first figure and 10% earn more than the last.

What you’d do

  • Verify conformance of machined work to specifications, using measuring instruments, such as calipers, micrometers, or fixed or telescoping gauges.
  • Study machining instructions, job orders, or blueprints to determine dimensional or finish specifications, sequences of operations, setups, or tooling requirements.
  • Move machine controls to lower tools to workpieces and to engage automatic feeds.
  • Verify that workpiece reference lines are parallel to the axis of table rotation, using dial indicators mounted in spindles.
  • Establish zero reference points on workpieces, such as at the intersections of two edges or over hole locations.
  • Change worn cutting tools, using wrenches.

AI and this job

AI exposure: how much of this job’s work AI tools can do or help with, based on national research. It is not a forecast of job loss.

Lower exposure16 of 100

The index averages three national research measures, each shown as a percentile of all jobs:

  • AIOE 24
  • Language-model AIOE 22
  • GPTs-are-GPTs 3

Observed AI use today: Little or none (Anthropic Economic Index)

AI exposure for this job is lower, and observed AI use is little or none. AI tools could help with studying job orders and blueprints, but lining up workpieces, setting reference points, and measuring finished parts rely on hands-on skill. Federal projections expect more automated, programmable machines to replace some of this work, and Massachusetts job numbers are expected to fall (-18.2%) through 2034.

Likely to change

  • Studying job orders and blueprints
  • Planning operation sequences and tooling setups

Still relies on people

  • Aligning workpieces and setting zero points
  • Measuring machined parts with precision tools

What federal projections say

“Productivity change, occupational substitution - share decreases as manufacturers are expected to use more CNC, automated, and programmable machines to perform some functions or tasks previously done by these workers.”
BLS Employment Projections 2025–35, factors affecting this job (U.S.)

Written with AI from the data on this page. Check with a career coach before making a decision.

Next steps from here

Related jobs that build on what you already do.

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    Reading blueprints and checking alignment with precise measuring tools carries over. This apprenticeship offers a Boston median pay of $120,840 and projected growth of 6.1%.

    Pay difference
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    High school diploma or equivalent

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    High school diploma or equivalent

  • Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers

    Inspecting and testing work and recording results uses your attention to detail. This job has a median pay of $103,090, with long-term on-the-job training.

    Pay difference
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Training near Boston

College and school programs in the Boston metro area that lead to this job, with 2023-24 completions (IPEDS).

No college programs near Boston map to this job. Many people enter through on-the-job training or apprenticeship.

Talk to a career coach at the Office of Workforce Development about apprenticeships and City partner programs.

Related occupations

Talk to a career coach

A coach at the Office of Workforce Development can help you plan your next step, and connect you with training, apprenticeships and City partner programs that are not listed here.

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